EFAC University Graduates

Name: Carolyne N.
Gender: Female
School: African Nazarene University, EFAC start date 1/10

Student's Background: Carolyne is the oldest of nine children, and her parents are peasant farmers with a low income. In 2008, when Carolyne was more than half way through her freshman year in college, she was informed that she had to drop out because of lack of fees. The money that she and her relatives were able to raise was not enough for her to continue school. Carolyne was disappointed when she had to drop out but she remained hopeful that she would be able to return to college some day. Thanks to her EFAC sponsor, Carolyne was able to return to school and is hen she completes her degree, she will be the first female university graduate from her district, a remote area of Kenya.

Academic Achievement: Carolyne worked 30 hours a week to pay for room and board while attending school full-time. She completed her course work in December 2012 with a cumulative GPA over 3.5 with a major in Information Technology. Carol is currently working for EFAC full time at ANU and helping develop a new EFAC website.

Carolyne: "My dream is to finish my degree course and if possible to go on with my masters and be able to do a profession in IT; change my family's situation, the society and to help the needy in the society to my best as I don't want anybody to suffer the way I did myself."

Name: Shirline P.
Gender: Female
School: African Nazarene University, EFAC start date 1/09

Student's Background: Shirline lost her mother in 2003. She continued to live with her elderly father and brothers. She and her siblings lived on the sale of milk from their few goats and her brothers were able to raise sporadic funds for her high school education. She was also able to attract some outside funds because of her good grades. She passed her KCSE with a B+ despite missing two thirds of her classes due to lack of funds. She studied at home and showed amazing determination.

Academic Achievement: In September 2009, Shirline earned a 4.0 average and received a small stipend for this accomplishment. In 2010, Shirline was first in her class and helped lead graduation as one of the scholars with the highest grades in the school.

For her senior year internship, Shirline worked in the Finance and Accounts Department at the School of Monetary Studies, an affiliate of the Central Bank of Kenya. She was able to use her business and accounting skills in this position, and she is hoping to use this experience to help her find a job at a large international accounting firm.

Shirline majored in business and accounting and did extremely well at University. After she graduated, Shirline wrote to her sponsor: "I really am grateful for the chance you have given me to pursue my dreams. You've given me hope that I can make it in life. Sometimes I look back and wonder how life would have been had it not been for you. I honestly appreciate your efforts and promise to always do my best. One day I hope to be like you. To be someone who can do something to help another."